J'khand HC directs DJs to file report over functioning of anganwadis

Ranchi, Oct 1 (UNI) Jharkhand High Court today directed all the District Judges (DJ) of the state to inquire into the functioning of anganwadri kendras and submit a report in two months.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Muthuswamy Karparvinayagam and Justice Amreshwar Sahay, passed the order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one Rajmuni Mehta.

The Court further directed the DJs that if required they can take help of the concerned Deputy Commissioners (DCs).

Mr Rajeev Ranjan Prasad and Mr Ram Subhak Singh appearing on behalf of the petitioner informed the Court that the materials supplied by the state government to the Anganwadi centres for children under integrated child development scheme was not nutritious and of poor quality.

In fact, the food was supplied only on paper but in reality they do not reach the Anganwadi centres and money was being withdrawn by the suppliers from concerned departments, both lawyers further informed.

Earlier, the Welfare Secretary appeared before the court. The court had directed the welfare secretary to file an affidavit against erring officers of the department but no action was taken till date.

The lawyers pleaded that there were about 16,687 Anganwadi Centres throughout the state.

UNI